Photographer's Note

LUNG CANCER RESEARCH CENTER

While waiting for a flight at Frankfurt Airport, I glanced at people entering and leaving this structure resembling a trailer. “Unfortunate,” I mused to myself, “…do they not know? Almost four decades ago, it seemed, it was already established that smokers had a higher incidence rate for lung cancer.”

It reminded me of my high school days at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware. (The magnificent buildings, built in the Tudor-style, served as the site of the 1989 Robin Williams film, Dead Poets Society.’) In my days, actually corresponding to the days the movie depicts, the school authorities had decided to allow students to smoke, but only upon presentation of permission letters from their parents. I was not a smoker, but I knew well the existence of ‘The Smokers' Shack’ — an unheated, run down shack set in the woods, and designated for the purpose. It had been made as uncomfortable as possible to discourage smoking. There, a large sign, ‘Lung Cancer Research Center,” eloquently announced the dangers of smoking.

The structure in this photo, resembling a pair of giant 'Helmholtz Coils,' bears a small sign subtly labeled, “Smoker’s Paradise.” I imagine, its purpose is to make the point in a more facetious manner.

Germany is very liberal to their smokers. Smokers have a strong lobby group. In other countries it´s forbidden to smoke restaurants and bars. In Germany it´s voluntarily for the owners of bars and restaurants to allow smoking. They fear that most of the guest would stay away so they allow smoking... I´m glad for every smoking area because that protects non-smokers. If someone smokes it´s his/her decision - as long as they don´t impair me.
(Well, I´m an ex-smoker...)